Getting ready for Xmas

It has started to cool down a bit here in Bama; Frosty the Snowman has come to visit us a few mornings

Trimming the tree and making treats

Decorating their own trees 

Mike got inventive trying to put the lights up

Dear Santa . . . 

Gifts for friends (Mike and I made these) 

Home Decor

I found this wooden spool and used in in place of the crate

I also made one similar for my mom and a friend and this is what she wrote on FB (so sweet)

There are certain special people that go above and beyond for people. I told her I loved this from a post on Pinterest and it appeared on our doorstep today. Gorgeous! Thank you so much Amanda Moncur and Mike!!!!!! Brandon:  Amanda Moncur and Mike Moncur are such good humans that it kinda makes me hate them a little bit.

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This is a couple we absolutely adore in our ward.  Dodi Nichols was a famous actress in the south, and was also in broadcasting for 75 years.  Her and her Husband were walking down the streets of NY one day and strangers kept saying to her "are you an actress?"  Her husband said "when we get home it is time for you to get into modeling." Her husband also served in the war.  Both of them have spent their lives traveling the world and told us that they are broke today because of it but they have lived life to the fullest and regret nothing :).  They also told us stories about how Dodi loved to give away everything she had to any stranger in need (Walt had to hide things or buy things he knew she wouldn't give up just to help them have a savings, like a wedding ring, but when a stranger told her her story of losing her home she gave her her ring to sell.  Many years later Dodi told us that the stranger mailed the ring back to her).  They were the most generous hosts, making an extravagant feast for us and showering the kiddos with Christmas goodies and toys.  It was a night to remember! 

Cool cats

Date night with friends! We loved going out with Kristine and Marcel and the girls one last time before the Christmas break

We were able to give a nice Christmas to a family in need in our ward, whom Becks and Amari are good friends with. It was fun to drop off their gifts before leaving to Utah for Christmas

Christmas presents for the boys from Kristine and the girls—so sweet and thoughtful 

To this day Beck's wants to wear his spiderman jammies to bed every night :) 

Brothers by the fire